I can tell you it doesn't rain like this in Minnesota. I am pretty sure that the internet cafe is going to wash away. I have arrived after 20 hours total flight time (split up into 3) and am now literally living in a Chinese only environment. I am learning a new definition of privacy too. something possibly interesting things:

• Crossing the street here is like playing the most horrible version of frogger ever, except the prize is your life
• There is no line in the cafeteria. You just rush up and tell the lady what you want, hoping she picks you and not one of the 35 others.
• Nothing is easy when your Chinese is 1/2 there
• Accents know no ends

I will try to post some more later, including my very friendly roommate and me. 再见:)

宗科

I have accumulated a big pile of stuff on my bed. All right--that's not quite true. I have a big pile of medicine and a pile of trinkets--proclaiming Minnesota on them--to give to people. I figure that between my Cipro and my Minnesota Twins snowman Christmas tree ornament I am basically set to go. Which is a good thing, because I am on my way to the airport at 4:00 am on Monday morning.

The really important news, however, is that the Twins took over the wildcard lead yesterday!

They beat Chicago for the 6th time in 7 games and it was wonderful. And speaking of other wonderful things, Alice had a great visit to Minnesota. We went tubing, walking, and to the mall where we got a slightly fuzzy picture of us with a shark. I am a very lucky guy. Now, I suppose, it's off to China with me. Which is sort of weird, because it feels like I am falling into the middle of a history book--welcome to the Middle Kingdom!

欢迎中国！

The fact that I am moving to China remains a sort of shimery
image. I can see it, and look at it sparkle, but I cannot grasp it. Fortunately, because I leave in 3 weeks, the fact is becoming slightly more concrete. I have visited numerous doctors and been poked in numerous places. I have registered with the embassay and will soon buy a plane ticket to New York. My penpal in Hangzhou has offered to meet me at the airport (which is amazing). I am reading all my predeparture information. And now I am starting to realize what is happening. And the scary thing is, I'm ok with it.

When I was little, my parents told me "be good or we'll
send you to China!"

Well, I am sending myself to China and I think it will be good. I often wonder how I, as a White person from Minnesota, became basically a China studies major, and I really can't say for sure. Although I think it goes back to me not playing the piano in third grade:) However it happened, I can say that I am almost ready for it to happen. Above is a pagoda in Hangzhou.